Latest California Healthline Stories
President Bush, Budget Leaders To Propose Limits on Spending on Medicare, Other Entitlement Programs
White House officials and congressional budget leaders last week indicated that President Bush in his budget request to Congress “will try to impose firm, enforceable limits on the growth of federal benefit programs” while continuing to “give priority to military operations and domestic security over social welfare programs,” the New York Times reports.
Some State Boards Schwarzenegger Slated for Elimination Not Named by California Performance Review
Some of the state boards — including several health-related commissions — that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) suggested eliminating during his State of the State address last week were not recommended by the California Performance Review Commission, the Los Angeles Times reports.
109th Congress Expected To Address Several Health Care Issues
CQ Today on Friday highlighted some health care debates expected in the 109th Congress.
FDA Approves Bristol-Myers Squibb Breast Cancer Medication Abraxane
FDA on Friday approved Abraxane, a breast cancer medication manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, for women in advanced stages of the disease who have not responded to chemotherapy, the New York Times reports.
State Health Officials Lift Flu Vaccine Eligibility Restrictions
Public Health Officer Richard Jackson on Friday lifted all age restrictions on the flu vaccine in an attempt to avoid wasting 400,000 adult doses and 265,000 pediatric doses held by the Department of Health Services, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
State, County Officials Investigating Tenet Healthcare Sale of Orange County Hospitals
State regulators, legislators and Orange County supervisors are placing “hurdles” in front of the sale of four Tenet Healthcare hospitals in the county to Integrated Healthcare Holdings by raising questions and seeking hearings into the business history of Kali Chaudhuri, the potential lead investor in the deal, the Orange County Register reports.
Special Election Could Include Several Health-Related Ballot Measures
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) possible call for a special election in the fall has led some groups to prepare for “bitter ideological fights” over issues such as abortion, prescription drugs and other issues, the Los Angeles Times reports.
A voluntary commitment by pharmaceutical companies in July 2004 to make unpublished clinical drug trial results public “has produced limited disclosures,” with unpublished data for only five drugs posted, according to a Boston Globe review of various Web sites.
Bush Urges Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers To Take Up Class-Action Reform
To help push along his recently announced campaign to implement medical malpractice reform and reduce litigation costs, President Bush on Thursday met with several bipartisan legislators to urge quick action on legislation that would limit class-action lawsuits, the Washington Times reports.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) during his State of the State address on Wednesday proposed consolidating or eliminating about 100 state regulatory boards, including some health-related commissions, the Sacramento Bee reports.